Muriel or Beryl?

I was teased for my name. I also had awful nicknames. My name has caused me stress and made my life harder in many ways.

No. I am not naive. I am saying that nowadays, there are so many different names and different cultures and parents making names up, that it is less of an issue.
40 years in the classroom has shown me that this is no longer the issue it once was.

@twosmallaxolotls Of course children still tease others with unusual names. I think you’re being very naive to think otherwise

Nobody will ridicule a girl with these names. Most schools are very diverse, and there are all sorts of names nowadays, from every culture as well as parents who get a bit alternative with Storm, Wren, Autumn etc.
No-one pays attention.

As a person who dislikes their given name, please don’t burden your child with a name that may cause them ridicule or embarrassment. I quite resent my parents for giving me a serious sounding older lady type of name and still feel self conscious when introducing myself. I was a shy girl and it made meeting new people rather anxiety inducing.

Baby names is a place where people often give unfiltered feedback as the op is wanting to know exactly what the names make people think as part of choosing one for their baby.

If everyone who didn't like a name trotted on, the whole point of posting would be defeated: there would just be a string of "how lovely" posts. Now is the time for an op to choose and change.

As I said though, OP, these old lady names are back in fashion, and, as far as they go, I think Beryl and Muriel are prettier than most.

Those names (while very fashionable at the time) aren't going to come back round to sound anything more than old lady-ish. I think you can be quite creative to honour these women.

Beryl means sea green jewel
And Muriel means bright sea or sparkling sea

Margot means pearl - literally the jewel of the sea
Coralie - coral
Mira - sea
Romy - dew of the sea
Greta - pearl
Naia - sea foam
Nerida - sea nymph
Delphine - creature of the sea
Sabrina -nymph/goddess of the river severn
Soraya -glittering jewels
Rhea- flowing stream
Ondine - wave
Isla -island

There's also all the many names meaning light /brightness that represent the sparkle of the sea/precious gems like Lucia, Celeste, Clara.

There's also similar name sounds like Mariel/Marielle/Meriel/Mirabel which are much better than Meryl which sounds incredibly old fashioned /quite masculine.

Gosh people are horribly rude! If you don't like either name just don't comment! The OP is asking which do you prefer, if you don't like either, this post isn't for you. Horrible people.

I prefer Beryl, I think it is very cute.

neither

"You're terrible Muriel"

Yes, they're really popular and I look them!

Yes, I thought aomething similar.

I have to concede I am not a huge fan of the old lady name revival. I do think Bertty is quite sweet, maybe Edith especially as Edie, but I really do not like Mabel, Margot, Ethel, Daphne, Hilda, Sadie, Edna etc.

It isn't just that I am unused to them on small people, but more that names of that era clearly had a certain vibe or formula: two heavy syllables with a dropping sound, kind of like a lead-heavy scone (Grace takes the prize for that actually). They all make me think of a big pair of knickers and post menopausal ankles clad in that dreadful dark tan coloured stretchy tights that are slightly bagging round the calf, plodding along to the church fete in hope of a, well, heavy scone I guess and a cup of milky tea. Zero frills or trills - which I rather like on a girl's name. Give me Georgiana or Anastasia over Edna any day!

All of that said, however, I can't see that Muriel or Beryl are any worse - or even a bad tbh - as all these old lady names coming back. I am nt sure why they are getting such a bashing.

ETA I realise this is a bit mean to a lot of truly lovely ladies of that variety I have known - but they'd still have been lovely if they were called Caroline!

You thought it was pretty??

Yeah, definitely a wind up!

Both are terrible.

Exactly! My DD is in your list and so are both her brother's girl names :)

I agree, I never thought I'd be teaching teenage girls called Elsie, Edith, Florence and Agnes, but here we are!

They will return and be regarded as completely normal names. I couldn't fathom that Maud would ever come back but its here.

Or that she's ahead of the curve.

Your name choices are so awful it’s funny, please do it! I wonder if they will grow to love it or change it when they are older. Update this thread in 15 years please lol!

Yes you can.

I can’t vote - both names are truly horrendous. You can’t call a little girl Beryl or Muriel, even as a middle name.

Beryl is sweet and could have Berry as nickname

I automatically assumed that this was a joke thread.

Both beyond dreadful.

I think Muriel is a lovely name with a beautiful meaning. I also like Meriel (though I like Muriel better).

No, you may not.